Château La Tour Blanche

A unique philanthropic heritage - Premier Grand Cru Classé de Sauternes

Château La Tour Blanche wines: buy at the best price

Château La Tour Blanche, Premier Grand Cru Classé de Sauternes in 1855, is an essential reference among the great sweet wines of Bordeaux. Located in the heart of the Sauternes appellation, this estate stands out for its rich history, unique terroir, and commitment to quality. With wines of great complexity, offering a perfect harmony between power and freshness, Château La Tour Blanche is a true gem of the appellation, coveted by sweet wine lovers from around the world.

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Tour Blanche 1988
New
2 in stock
130587
White
75cl
92/100
89/100
16/20
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Bordeaux | Sauternes

Tour Blanche 1988

€60.00 inc-VAT per bottle
€50.00 ex-VAT

History of Château La Tour Blanche

The history of Château La Tour Blanche dates back to the 17th century, when Jean Saint Marc du Latourblanche, clerk to the Parliament of Bordeaux, became owner of the estate and gave his name to the château. Thanks to his financial resources, he transformed the former charterhouse into a more imposing residence and developed the vineyard. He also built a tower to justify the estate's name, La Tour Blanche, which has been retained through the centuries.

The modern history of the estate truly begins with Frederick Focke, a German merchant who acquired the property in the 19th century. Focke introduced the technique of late harvesting, already practiced in Germany, thus contributing to revolutionizing the production of sweet wines in Sauternes. Thanks to his expertise, he convinced other producers in the region to adopt this method, marking a turning point in the history of the appellation.

In 1855, during the famous classification of Bordeaux Crus, Château La Tour Blanche was classified Premier Grand Cru of Sauternes, just behind the legendary Château d'Yquem. Unfortunately, Focke did not live to savor this success, as he died the same year. Later, in 1907, Daniel Iffla, nicknamed Osiris, bequeathed the estate to the French State on condition that a viticulture school be founded there. This wish was realized in 1911, and since then, the estate has trained several generations of winemakers while maintaining the production of its exceptional wines.

Today, Château La Tour Blanche belongs to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and continues to be a model estate, combining traditional expertise with modern innovations.

The 2020, 2001 and 2009 vintages of Château La Tour Blanche are awarded a rating of 96/100 by Robert Parker, highlighting the finesse and elegance of this grand cru classé of Sauternes.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Château La Tour Blanche

The exceptional terroir of Château La Tour Blanche extends over approximately 40 hectares dedicated to the production of sweet wines. Located on a hilltop that rises 60 meters above sea level, the estate benefits from ideal sun exposure, which promotes optimal grape ripeness. The proximity of the Ciron and Garonne rivers creates perfect conditions for the development of botrytis cinerea, also known as "noble rot", an essential element in the production of Sauternes wines.

The estate's soil is primarily composed of gravel over a clay-limestone subsoil, a mixture that allows natural drainage while retaining a certain freshness in the vine roots. This unique terroir gives Château La Tour Blanche wines their distinctive character, both rich and elegant.

The estate's grape varieties reflect the traditional grape varieties of the Sauternes appellation: 83% Sémillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle. Sémillon, the dominant grape variety, brings structure and richness to the wines, while Sauvignon Blanc offers beautiful freshness and subtle aromas. Finally, Muscadelle adds an exotic and spicy aromatic touch, contributing to the wine's complexity.

Vinification at Château La Tour Blanche

The production of Château La Tour Blanche wines is based on ancestral expertise, combined with modern vinification techniques. Harvesting is done manually through successive selections. This delicate process consists of selecting only the grapes that have reached an optimal level of botrytization, a key step for the concentration of sugars and aromas.

The grapes are then carefully pressed, and the musts undergo controlled fermentation to preserve the perfect balance between acidity and sugar richness. This fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and oak barrels, ensuring optimal temperature control.

The aging of Château La Tour Blanche wines lasts between 16 and 18 months, in new Bordeaux barrels for part of the wine, which brings fine tannic structure and beautiful aromatic complexity. The expertise of the estate's team is evident at every stage, from vine to bottle, ensuring consistently high quality.

The Cuvées of Château La Tour Blanche

Château La Tour Blanche offers several sweet wine cuvées, each reflecting the estate's excellence while offering unique characteristics. Here is an overview of the main cuvées:

Château La Tour Blanche - 1er Grand Cru Classé 1855  

This emblematic cuvée embodies the estate's style, with a superb concentration of candied fruits, honey and sweet spices. The wine is endowed with incredible richness, balanced by beautiful freshness that extends the finish. Each vintage reveals a harmonious marriage between power and finesse, with complex aromas and great persistence on the palate. This wine is ideal for special occasions or to be kept in the cellar, where it will improve with time.

Les Charmilles de La Tour Blanche  

The estate's second wine, Les Charmilles de La Tour Blanche is made from the same grape varieties as its elder, but offers a more airy and accessible style. This wine is distinguished by a lighter aromatic palette and moderate sweetness, which makes it perfect for more informal tastings. With its aromas of fresh fruit and its vivacity, it can be enjoyed young and fresh, to accompany aperitifs or light desserts.

Brumes de La Tour Blanche  

A lighter and more refreshing cuvée, Brumes de La Tour Blanche is characterized by its aromatic purity and great freshness. Less concentrated than the estate's other wines, it is made from manual selections and vinified in stainless steel tanks. This wine offers beautiful structure while remaining easy to drink, with subtle aromas of exotic fruits and a lively finish. It is perfect as an aperitif or to accompany light dishes.

The best vintages of Sauternes and Barsac, two prestigious appellations of Bordeaux, include exceptional years such as 1945, 1947, 1949, 1955, 1959, and 1967, recognized for their finesse and complexity. Among the more recent vintages, we note 1975, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, as well as the legendary 2001. Sweet wine enthusiasts will also appreciate the years 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2013. Finally, the excellent climatic conditions of recent decades have produced memorable vintages in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. These wines offer unique aromatic richness and remarkable aging potential.

Discover the exceptional treasures of the Grands Crus Classés of Sauternes and Barsac, where each estate tells a unique story of expertise and excellence. The prestigious Château d'Yquem, Premier Grand Cru Supérieur, embodies the quintessence of Sauternes. Among the Premiers Grands Crus Classés, explore the subtleties of Château Climens and Château Coutet in Barsac, as well as the wonders of Château Guiraud, Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Château La Tour Blanche, Château Rabaud-Promis, Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Château Rieussec, Château Sigalas-Rabaud, and Château Suduiraut in Sauternes. Each estate invites you to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of sweet wines, combining aromatic richness, finesse and elegance, for an unforgettable sensory experience.

Château La Tour Blanche is an essential reference in the world of sweet wines from Sauternes. Thanks to its exceptional terroir, its commitment to quality, and its rich history, the estate continues to produce wines of rare elegance and complexity. Whether through its emblematic cuvée, Château La Tour Blanche Premier Grand Cru Classé, or its more accessible cuvées such as Les Charmilles and Brumes, each wine reflects the estate's unique expertise.

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